Taiwan's Top 10 Classic Cycling Trails: Sun Moon Lake Takes the Crown

By / MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 

With cycling tourism thriving in Taiwan, the Ministry of Education's Sports Administration recently held its first "Taiwan's Top 10 Classic Cycling Routes" voting campaign. Over a span of two months, the results were announced, with Sun Moon Lake Bicycle Path — once selected by CNN as one of the most beautiful in the world — receiving the highest number of votes and winning the Best Popularity Award.

The Sports Administration launched the "Taiwan's Top 10 Classic Cycling Routes" voting campaign on August 13, selecting 32 cycling routes across Taiwan under the theme of happiness, and then inviting netizens to vote online for the top ten classic cycling routes that best reflect Taiwan’s cultural landscape and international appeal. The first phase of voting ended smoothly on September 3, and after on-site cycling route evaluations and scoring by professionals, the final ten cycling routes were selected.

This event allocated 60% of the total score to online public voting and 40% to scores given by judges. The judging criteria were based on “HAPPY,” which stands for “Healthy,” “Accessibility,” “Participation,” “Popularity,” and “Youthfulness.” Various organizations actively prepared for the event starting in June, with voting taking place during August and September.

The final “2015 Top 10 Classic Cycling Routes” include: “Yilan Dongshan River Bicycle Path,” “Taitung Chihshang Dapochi (Floating Irrigation Channel Loop) and Blue Line Bicycle Path,” “Pingtung Dapeng Bay Loop Cycling Path,” “Nantou Jiji Green Tunnel and Town Loop Bicycle Path,” “Sun Moon Lake Bicycle Path System,” “Taichung Dongfeng Green Corridor – Houfeng Bicycle Path,” “New Taipei Dahan and Xindian River Bicycle Path,” “New Taipei Tamsui River Left Bank Bicycle Path,” “Northeast Coast Old Caoling Loop Bicycle Path,” and “Taipei Riverside Bicycle Path.”

The “Sun Moon Lake Bicycle Path” won the first-place Best Popularity Award in the online vote. Due to the close scores of other routes, the campaign also selected six honorable mentions: “Taitung Guanshan Ring Town Waterfront Bicycle Path,” “Taitung Mountain and Sea Bicycle Path – City Loop,” “Kaohsiung Love River and Lotus Pond Bicycle Path System,” “Miaoli Green Light Sea Breeze Bicycle Path,” “Hsinchu 17 Kilometers Coastal Bicycle Trail,” and “New Taipei Erchong Ring Bicycle Path.”